This is the terrifying moment a West Kirby restaurant owner is attacked by an armed gang with a gun and sword.

The CCTV footage released to the press shows an armed gang storming Le Jardin, West Kirby during the early hours of the morning.

Owner Peter Lee was sent sprawling across the floor as the men burst in pointing a gun in his face.

A bar man was hit over the head with a gun and one of the gang grabbed the hair of an 18-year-old female employee who was on her first shift.

Another member of the gang then began threatening Mr Lee with a sword, before striking him on the leg.

The men clashed in the middle of the empty restaurant as Mr Lee suffered a blow to his arm when he blocked a machete blow which was coming down on his head. The gang then fled after stealing around £400 from the till.

Detectives wish to speak to anyone who saw men acting suspiciously around Grange Road in the early hours of Thursday morning, or making off towards the direction of Hoylake just after 1am.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously and for free on 0800 555 111.